a history of desire, in a room full of memories
antic
A history of desire, written in the relationship between objects, audiences, and sound. In a room of memories right in the heart of Vancouver's Antiques Row, Proximity created a high-tech antique parlour. Part sound installation, part museum exhibition, part trip down memory lane, antic provides a space in which to play, converse, and contemplate the turning of centuries and the turning of the globe.
Visitors to antic can leisurely explore a collection of unique artifacts on display. Perhaps a particular object will trigger memories and associations, memories that tell the fragmented histories and uncover the traces of people and events who have gone before.
The invisible unconscious at work in the room—echoed in the sound design—is based on the same software technology at the core of computer games. Infrared video allows the room to react as visitors wander through the collection. Each visitor, through his or her movement in the space, creates a unique, individual soundscape drawn from a variety of sources including 19th century adventure travelogues, classic literature, cylinder recordings and early photography. The room becomes a sea of sound with the visitor's movement creating eddies from the past, evoking the associative nature of memory.
Nostalgic Songs from the Parlour
Listen to selections from our evening of turn-of-the-century songs, from British Columbia and abroad.
CAROL SAWYER SINGS:
"My Little Comox Shack"
[MP3]
(Paul Michelin/Bessie Vessey, 1927)
"Gentle Annie"
[MP3]
(Stephen Foster, 1856)
MELANIE YEATS SINGS:
"If you only had a moustache"
[MP3]
(Stephen Foster)
BLAIR HAYASHI SINGS:
"Waltzing Matilda"
[MP3]
(Banjo Paterson, 1895)
CAROL & MELANIE SING:
"Red River Valley"
[MP3]
(anon., c.1870)
Walking Tours with Bruce MacDonald
Local historian Bruce Macdonald led a series of neighbourhood walking tours during the exhibition of antic. Interest in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood and its origins is strong. Bruce's expertise and the gathering was a great opportunity for folks from the neighbourhood and beyond to share their passion and memories of this historic area.
Presented January 18 – February 16, 2008
Blim, 197 East 17th Avenue, Vancouver
Created by Greg Corness, Joel DeStefano and Heidi Taylor.
Creation and production made possible through the generous support of:
City of Vancouver
Blim
The Province of British Columbia
Direct Access Program
and the British Columbia Arts Council. Additional thanks to Caroline Liffman, Flick Harrison, Andrew Templeton, Bruce Macdonald and Proximity Arts Board of Directors for their contributions.